Southeast Asia & the Pacific: Retreat of water surpluses forecast

Southeast Asia & the Pacific: Retreat of water surpluses forecast

23 August 2017

The Big PictureThe 12-month map (below) indicates exceptional water deficits in a large block of western Cambodia and a small pocket in northern Sumatra near Medan. Deficits of lesser severity are forecast for Malaysia and central Papua New Guinea.

Exceptionalsurpluses are forecast for western Myanmar and parts of the northern stretch of the Salween River; north-central and southwestern Laos; central and eastern Thailand; and southeastern Sulawesi. Surpluses of varying severity are forecast for: eastern Cambodia into Vietnam; northern Vietnam; Laos; southern Philippines; and western Papua, Indonesia.

ImpactsRecent flooding in north and northeastern Thailand has killed 29 people, affected over 721 million, and caused damages estimated at US$300 million. The federal government has approved 1.6 billion baht (US$48 million) in relief for farmers in the region, and insurance compensation is projected at around 1 billion baht (US$30 million), according to Thai General Insurance Associated.

In northern Vietnam 26 people have died in flooding that caused damages estimated at more than 940 billion dong (US$41 million) to roads, farmland, homes, and water infrastructure. Vietnam's Ministry of Rural Development and the Japan International Co-operation Agency recently signed a grant agreement worth US$18.2 million to improve Vietnam's flood management capability through additional hydrological observation facilities and water-related disaster management systems in the Hương River Basin in central Vietnam.

The normally measured voices typical of scientific conferences were replaced by more somber inflections as water and food security experts gathered recently to discuss the fate of Cambodia's Tonlé Sap Lake, whose fisheries have traditionally provided 75 percent of the country's protein. Experts at the International Symposium on Flood Pulse Ecosystems described pressures on the vast wetland from climate change, over-fishing, upstream dams, and drought that, said some, give it no more than a three-year window of time before collapse.

Forecast BreakdownThe 3-month maps (below) show the evolving conditions in more detail.

The August through October map indicates a significant retreat of exceptional water surplus in the region. However, exceptionalsurpluses are forecast for western Myanmar; eastern Thailand into southern Laos; and, southeastern Sulawesi and Sumbawa and Flores Islands in Indonesia. Moderate to extremesurpluses are forecast for: the Salween River and extreme south of Myanmar; much of Laos; central and northern Vietnam; Papua, Indonesia; and pockets in Papua New Guinea. Exceptionaldeficits are forecast for a large block of western Cambodia. Deficits are also forecast for: the Mekong Delta; southern Thailand trailing south into Malaysia; Singapore; Malaysian Borneo; southern Sumatra; and pockets in central Papua New Guinea.

The map for November 2017 through January 2018 shows a forecast of near-normal conditions for Vietnam, the Philippines, much of Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Deficits in western Cambodia are forecast to moderate. Both deficit and surplus conditions are forecast for western Myanmar and northern Laos as deficits emerge in areas of prior surplus.

After January deficits are expected to emerge throughout much of the region.

(It should be noted that forecast skill declines with longer lead times.)

Note on Administrative BoundariesThere are numerous regions around the world where country borders are contested. ISciences depicts country boundaries on these maps solely to provide some geographic context. The boundaries are nominal, not legal, descriptions of each entity. The use of these boundaries does not imply any judgement on the legal status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of disputed boundaries on the part of ISciences or our data providers.

Many analyses reported in ISciences-authored blog posts are based on data generated by the ISciences Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM). Other sources, if used, are referenced in footnotes accompanying individual posts. WSIM is a validated capability that produces monthly reports on current and forecast global freshwater surpluses and deficits with lead times of 1-9 months at 0.5°x0.5° resolution. This capability has been in continuous operation since April 2011 and has proven to provide reliable forecasts of emerging water security concerns in that time-frame. WSIM has the ability to assess the impacts of water anomalies on people, agriculture, and electricity generation. Detailed data, customized visualizations, and reports are available for purchase.

Copyright 2019 ISCIENCES, L.L.C. Global Water Monitor & Forecast Watch List is the property of ISCIENCES, L.L.C. It is protected by U.S. copyright laws and may not be reproduced in any way without the written permission of ISCIENCES, L.L.C. The user assumes the entire risk related to its use of information on ISCIENCES, L.L.C. Web pages, including information derived from Water Security Indicators Model (WSIM). This information may include forecasts, projections and other predictive statements that represent ISCIENCES, L.L.C.’s assumptions and expectations in light of currently available information and using the highest professional standards. Actual results may differ from those projected. Consequently, no guarantee is presented or implied as to the accuracy of specific forecasts, projections or predictive statements contained herein. ISCIENCES, L.L.C. provides such information "as is," and disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, including (without limitation) any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will ISCIENCES, L.L.C. be liable to you or to any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit resulting from any use or misuse of this data.